Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1904-1955 / (Creation)
Level of description
Fonds
Extent and medium
0.054 cubic metres (16 volumes)
Context area
Name of creator
Administrative history
In 1904, six agricultural show enthusiasts met at the Lion Royal Hotel, Aberystwyth to consider forming an Agricultural Show Society for Wales. A general meeting of supporters, held at the House of Commons on 26 February 1904, endorsed the steps suggested by Loveden Pryse and his colleagues, and the Welsh National Agricultural Society was born. The first venue selected was a two-day event in Aberystwyth held on the Vicarage Field, 3 and 4 August 1904. The shows of 1908 and 1909 were held on the Flats, now the University Playing Fields. At the Annual General Meeting, 19 March 1910, an invitation was accepted from the Carmarthenshire Agricultural Society to hold the show at Llanelli. Four more shows were held prior to the First World War. In 1920, with assistance from Mr (later Lord) David Davies of Llandinam, a show was held at Wrexham in 1922. On 22 November of that year, the Society was honoured when King George V became Patron and the Prince of Wales became Honorary President, and the name of the Society was changed to the Royal Welsh Agricultural Society. The first twenty-five years, to 1929, had seen the development of the Society despite the intervention of the war. In 1939, war intervened again and no shows were held during the years 1940 to 1946. In 1947, the show at Carmarthen was a success with a visit from Princess Elizabeth. Because of petrol rationing, no show was held in 1948. In 1949, the show staged at Singleton Park, Swansea attracted a total attendance of 102,101 - a record that stood until 1976. In the following years attendances steadied. In 1960-1961, rising costs forced the Society to consider a permanent location. A decision was taken in 1962 to purchase a site and a permanent home was established at Llanelwedd (Builth Wells) where the first show was staged in 1963.
Archival history
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Deposited by the Society per Mr. John Wigley, Chief Executive, Llanelwedd, Builth Wells, Powys, in February 1984
Content and structure area
Scope and content
Records of the Society from its formation in 1904 until 1955, comprising minutes of council and committee meetings and secretary's reports
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Action: All records deposited at the National Library of Wales have been retained..
Accruals
Accruals are not expected.
System of arrangement
Arranged chronologically.
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
Readers consulting modern papers in the National Library of Wales are required to sign the 'Modern papers - data protection' form.
Conditions governing reproduction
Usual copyright regulations apply
Language of material
Script of material
Language and script notes
English, Welsh.
Physical characteristics and technical requirements
Finding aids
A hard copy of the catalogue is available in 'Minor Lists and Summaries 1984' at the National Library of Wales. The catalogue can be accessed on-line from: www.library.wales
Allied materials area
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
Related units of description
Notes area
Note
Title supplied from contents of fonds.
Alternative identifier(s)
Virtua system control number
Project identifier
Access points
Subject access points
Place access points
Name access points
Genre access points
Description control area
Description identifier
Institution identifier
Rules and/or conventions used
Description follows ANW guidelines based on ISAD(G) 2nd ed.;AACR2; and LCSH
Status
Level of detail
Dates of creation revision deletion
April 2003
Language(s)
- English
Script(s)
Sources
Archivist's note
Compiled by Seri Crawley for the ANW Project.The following sources were used for the preparation of the description: NLW Minor Lists and Summaries (1984); Royal Welsh Agricultural Society at (www.rwas.co.uk)viewed 25 April 2003.